From Robert Gropel
Rob and Maria’s family would like to thank everyone for their very generous contributions to help bring Maria home and say goodbye. They are touched by the outpour of tributes to Maria.
Our dear friend Maria passed away on Mt Everest on 21st May 2016 with her husband Rob by her side.
We were all so shocked and saddened by her loss.
Maria has been an invaluable member of St Michael’s Netball Club for 10 years.
She was an incredibly generous person who volunteered her time and expertise as club treasurer on our committee.
It is because of people like Maria that community run clubs like ours are able to function.
With the blessing of her husband Rob and her family, we began collecting money to support their efforts to retrieve and repatriate Maria’s body.
Maria was repatriated to Melbourne and was farewelled by her family and friends at a memorial service on 8th June 2016 at the Monash University Religious Centre, Clayton Campus.
As of 3rd September 2016, we collected A$28,479.40.
We have been able to contribute to the costs of retrieval, repatriation and Maria's funeral. Following discussions with her husband Rob and her family, we have decided any extra funds collected will be donated in Maria’s memory to charities close to her heart.
Rob and Maria’s family would like to thank everyone for their very generous contributions to help bring Maria home and say goodbye. They are touched by the outpour of tributes to Maria.
